, congressman lamar smith of texas, and i worked on other parts so that we needed up with an improved bill. we had a modest expenditure of benefits for deserving emergency medical responders, wholesome reforms to make the benefit program stronger, more cost-effective and efficient. the most important thing, we had c.b.o., which initially had concern, reviewed it and found this cost nothing. what we're saying, mr. president, since 1974, this country has recognized we have first responders who are killed, disabled in the line of duty. this came from bipartisan legislation. it's always been joined in bipartisan legislation. you have a police officer who is shot in the line of duty. you have a first responder, a firefighter, e.m.s., others who are killed in the line of duty, die as a result of their work in the line of duty, that they would have -- share in the same benefits that we provided for the whole country. this just clarifies -- this clarifies it for all first responders. it is hard to think of anybody who could possibly disagree with it. it costs taxpayers nothing. it does what we've alwa
